LOS ANGELES — The Nets' DeShawn Stevenson admitted his flagrant foul on Blake Griffin was an attempt to send a message to the Los Angeles Clippers’ power forward after Griffin had been pushing the Nets around and throwing down dunks at will in the first half.

“He was dunking all over the place,” Stevenson said of Griffin, whom he bumped from behind when Griffin went up for another one of those lob passes with 3:22 remaining in the second quarter of today’s 101-91 loss. “I didn’t try to foul him hard, but when he’s up in the air like that there was no way I could give a foul but to bring him down.”

Stevenson said he wasn’t trying to hurt Griffin, last year’s rookie of the year and Slam Dunk champ. The Nets seemed to appreciate the effort.

“I think it just showed that you can’t just let (Griffin) dunk all over us,” Deron Williams said. “There were a couple plays where it was just one dribble and dunking on us and there’s no help. Things like that don’t happen with playoff teams.”

The Clippers have been added to Dwight Howard’s list of teams to which he wishes to be traded, according to a report by SheridanHoops.com. The report quoted an unnamed source saying Howard, the Orlando Magic’s superstar center, is “intrigued by the Clippers.” Howard’s agent had previously been given permission by the Magic front office to talk to three teams — the Nets, L.A. Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

The report said the most likely outcome of the situation is Howard will finish the season with the Magic then leave as a free agent. The story said Howard — who reportedly informed the Magic the Nets were his top choice — now does not wish to be traded to the Nets this season, as it may mean missing the playoffs. He could still join the Nets as a free agent in the summer, and the Nets would keep Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks and their draft picks.

Williams was one of 20 players named to the USA’s preliminary 2012 Olympic roster. The roster will have to be pared down to 12 before the Olympics begin in London in late July.

“I’m definitely honored,” Williams said of being named to the preliminary roster. “I look forward to being part of that team and having a chance to win another gold medal. My best experience as an athlete was winning that first (in 2008) and it would mean the world to me to win another one.”

Nets coach Avery Johnson was given a technical at 9:24 of the first half for arguing a non-call when DeAndre Jordan blocked a shot by Williams. Johnson thought it should have been a goaltending call.